Biden promised to visit an Indian tribe. It’s finally getting ready, in full swing

President Biden heads to the Gila River Indian Community near Phoenix on Friday, marking the first time as president he has visited an Indian tribe.

The landmark move, which comes less than two weeks before the election, fulfills a promise Biden made to tribal leaders two years ago to visit Native American lands.

Biden on Thursday said the visit marks an attempt to right historical wrongs as he becomes the first president to formally apologize for federal Indian boarding schools that operated for more than 150 years until 1969, separating American Indian, Alaska Native children and Native Hawaiians. from their parents in order to assimilate them, and subjecting them to abuse or even death.

“This is part of the president’s legacy,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday when asked about the timing of the apology. She said the president had been wanting to make this trip for a long time. “This apology is historic and impressive.”

At least 973 children died in schools, according to a Home Office report. Ministry of Internal Affairs report also called for a formal apology, among other recommendations.

But the timing of the visit – and apology – also comes less than two weeks before Election Day, as Vice President Harris is embroiled in a tight presidential battle against former President Donald Trump. The Gila River Reservation, home to the O’odham and Pee Posh Nations, lies partially within the boundaries of Maricopa County, one of the counties that could decide the 2024 presidential race.

As Election Day approaches, Democrats are hoping that native voters in key swing states like Arizona will help secure the White House. Harris has secured the support of leaders at least 17 of 22 federally recognized tribes – including the Gila River Indian Community. Other Native tribes have published voter guides that include Democratic information about candidates.

“We talk about the Blue Wall, but there is a wall of Native voters,” said Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis. “Blue Wall” refers to Midwestern states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that have traditionally supported Democrats but are now considered swing states. Lewis noted significant numbers of Native voters in key states such as Arizona, Montana and Wisconsin.

“They may very well determine the outcome of the vote in these razor-thin races,” he said.

Biden will use the visit to discuss his administration’s progress in “working for tribal communities,” including keeping promises for the visit, the White House said.

Republicans have seized on the timing of the Arizona trip as a White House political coup as they also seek to appeal to Native voters.

“Joe Biden’s visit to the Native American community less than two weeks before the election is little more than a photo op,” said Haley Dobbins, communications director for the Republican National Committee in Arizona, saying Republican policies would better support that community.

Not the first high-profile visit

Harris and her partner Minnesota Governor Tim Walz both held events earlier this month at the Gila River site and were introduced by Lewis.

Arizona is home to more than 200,000 Native Americans of voting age, and voting advocates and political parties have been working all year to get out the vote.

Over the past few months, Harris campaign steps up its efforts to appeal to Native American voters. The campaign boasts the most “expansive” effort yet to mobilize Native Democrats, hiring more than 20 staffers dedicated to outreach to the state’s 22 federally recognized tribes and ad buys. throughout the elections through tribal media.

“It means so much to be back in the Gila River Indian Community,” Harris said during her visit in early October, noting that last summer she was the first vice president to visit the tribe.

“I firmly believe that the relationships between tribal nations in the United States are sacred—and that we must respect tribal sovereignty, trust treaty obligations, and guarantee tribal self-determination.”

Walz is already preparing to return to visit members of the Arizona tribe. Immediately after Biden’s departure, the vice presidential nominee will arrive in Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation, which stretches from Arizona to New Mexico and a bit of Utah.

Former President Donald Trump also visited the state on Thursday, although he has yet to specifically visit Native American communities.

The Arizona Republican Party, on the other hand, is working to make inroads with Democrats. support from Native American voters by hosting tables at tribal events, meeting with representatives of the Navajo Nation, and running ads on tribal radio urging voters to “vote Republican.”